AIBU that flatmate is washing his friend's filthy work rags in the shared machine?

[blacktruffle]

I am in shared accommodation at present whilst I study. There is a guy in the house who is 32 going on 16 - smokes MJ a lot, a bit of a no-hoper but pleasant enough in his own way.

Tonight, I came down to do some washing in the shared washing machine but couldn't use it as he had a load in there. It stopped 5 mins after I got there and he came running in and started to empty the machine then said he needed a plastic bag. I said why don't you use the washing basket that I bought for the house to use? He told me that the clothes weren't his but belonged to his mate who is a window cleaner and as he said this, I noticed not only grotty old joggers and T shirts but also the rags that window cleaners use coming out of the drum.

Suffice it to say that these things had been on a 90 degree wash (takes 3 hours for the machine to complete that cycle) and because I had no idea what was on those rags, I then had to put the machine on an empty hot wash with detergent and a squirt of bleach. That meant that I couldn't do my washing tonight and neither could anyone else!

AIBU to say that I don't want his mates filthy window cleaning rags to be washed in our house a) because they could have oil, bird poop or just about anything else on them and could stain any clothes put in after them and b) laundrettes are open so his mate should be using those.

I don't like confrontation but I don't want this to become a regular thing and not sure how to approach it. I just didn't want to put my clothes in after a load that had god knows what on it. Help!

Drip drip drip...

@Arghlife

At that temperature it's fine, people wash nappies in machines. However, he should really be using it to wash someonevelse things

If you use your machine for cloth nappies it is actually recommended to do a drum clean once per month because all sorts of nasty bacteria could potentially colonise your machine. I don’t think OP was being unreasonable to clean the drum afterwards.

Using the machine in a shared house for 3+ hours for a matter isn’t on.

@GreyhoundG1rl

Where are all these people living that he has to wash their clothes?

Weird, isn’t it? I don’t know anyone who regularly washes multiple loads of chemically impregnated industrial workwear for numerous other people. 🤷‍♀️

Christ knows what is on these garments if they’re leaving residual traces in the machine that destroys subsequent loads of laundry. It must be horrific stuff!

[quote blacktruffle]@Mysterious - not such smooth patter in broken English with no filter. I didn't ask, they told me when I walked in at the height of lockdown last year to find 4 of them in the kitchen with no masks![/quote]
So, apropos of nothing, four men just launched into a second-language commentary on their window-cleaning chemicals?

Like I said, smooth patter.

1. if the washing machine is working, there is nothing at all in there which could ahve got on your clothes.

I have been decorating, I wash my painty clothes in the machine, and there is nothing at all in the machine afterwards. Putting the machine on an empty hot wahs was totally unnecessary and OTT. And after you have put 'as quirt of bleach' in the machine, you stand much more chance of damaging anything you put in!

1. As a one off favour, sure do a load for a friend, I am sure we have all done it. But if you are sharing bills, you really don't want this to be a regular thing, so you need to talk to your flatmate and make sure this isn't a regular thing.

[quote blacktruffle]@greyhound - nice try love but if you read my original post, I say that it isn't the first time![/quote]
Did you type that bit in invisible ink, op?

[quote blacktruffle]@greyhound - nice try love but if you read my original post, I say that it isn't the first time![/quote]
you really don't.
I've just read it twice and you do not at any point say that this has happened before

You're being quite precious. Windows are cleaned with mild detergent.

Hell, I wash shitty clothes in my machine, most days and don't recoil when I wash other stuff in it, as it did its job and got the shitty stuff clean.

It sounds like you have a lot of issues with your flat mate, and the washing machine situation is the tip of the iceberg. It might be best for all of you to get together and have a quick chat?

It does sound like you need to clean your washing machine more often. I have never had a problem with previous washes affecting clothes, and I regularly wash cloths with cleaning products, clothes with paint and dye on them and cloth nappies. A deep clean once a month should suffice!

Have also washed painty clothes. Many times. No subsequent problem.

Did you type that bit in invisible ink, op?

In fact, far from it being in your OP, you say this in two subsequent posts:

I suspect that he has done this a couple of times though but this is the first time he has admitted to it

and

I said that I suspect this isn't the first time he has done 'favours' for his mates by washing their clothes in our machine but I couldn't prove it at the time.

which isn't exactly the same is it?

Black Truffle, I completely empathise with you. I would hate the thought of those filthy clothes in my washer. And I would have given it a long hot wash afterwards as well.
You tell him to stop washing other peoples clothes on there.

I think hogging the machine is what would piss me off the most.

I think the other three of you need to TOGETHER tell him that he can't use the machine for anyone else's washing, just his own.

sorry that should be "in" not on.

2 separate issues: washing work clothes and equipment. Not a problem.
Washing for friends (more than an emergency one off). A problem.

@PickAChew

Have also washed painty clothes. Many times. No subsequent problem.

I wash my rollers in the washing machine - and I’m yet to ruin anything I’ve washed after. Maybe you need a new washing machine, OP.

@blacktruffle

Possibly all sharing accommodation. He is Bulgarian with poor English and so are his mates who hang around the front of the house smoking MJ!

Forrrin?????

Why didn't you say so earlier?

Clearly untrustworthy, what with being forrin and all

I think you are making a mountain out of a mole hill. This is really a non issue. Just check which night the washing machine will be free for you to use it. If you are responsible for electricity you could ask person doing friends washing to pay £3 per load to cover the cost of the electricity.

I would be fuming that hes doing his mates washing in shared machine. Regardless of sharing your dirty laundry dot com

Fucking hell ...

You’re nutty, they’re scummy. Balances out.

You keep mentioning oil. Unless I'm confused oil wouldn't be good to clean windows. Wouldn't it smear?